Cam Newton, Stephen A. Smith rip Diego Pavia for behavior following Heisman Trophy loss

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s reaction to finishing as the runner-up for the 2025 Heisman Trophy has sparked widespread criticism across the college football landscape. That included sharp rebukes from ESPN personalities like Cam Newton and Stephen A. Smith.

Speaking Monday on First Take, Newton did not mince words when addressing Pavia’s social media posts, which included criticism of Heisman voters and disrespect toward Indiana and eventual winner Fernando Mendoza.

“I’m one of those voters, Diego,” the former Heisman winner said. “When you start to think about these types of actions, there’s a quote that says, ‘Do not do anything that you’re going to end up apologizing for.’ Diego, that was classless. That was senseless.”

Newton emphasized that Pavia’s actions could have long-term ramifications, particularly as he looks toward a future at the professional level. He questioned how no one in Pavia’s inner circle stepped in before the posts went public, stressing that public perception matters for a quarterback with NFL aspirations.

“You don’t handle business like that accordingly, especially if you want to be a potential franchise quarterback,” Newton added. “That is not the type of behavior that’s going to get you far.”

Stephen A. Smith on Pavia: ‘He’s old enough to know better’

In response, Stephen A. Smith echoed the criticism but placed responsibility squarely on Pavia himself: “He’s old enough to know better,” Smith said. “I’m not going to blame his family or his friends. He did that on his own.”

Smith also pointed out the disrespect directed toward Mendoza, who led Indiana to an undefeated season and delivered one of the year’s defining moments with a game-winning touchdown pass against Penn State.

“He didn’t deserve it?” Smith asked rhetorically. “And then you’re in the club posting like that — how do you think NFL teams are going to judge that?”

After facing backlash, Pavia issued a lengthy public apology Sunday night, acknowledging that he mishandled the disappointment of coming up short: “I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” Pavia wrote. “Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award.”

Pavia also cited his underdog mentality as the driving force behind his emotions, noting a lifetime of being doubted at every stage of his football journey. While the apology has helped calm some of the criticism, Newton and Smith made it clear the episode should serve as a learning moment for the young quarterback, both on and off the field. 

— On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this article.